Copper (II) Ion Action on Soil Bacteria

Soil contamination with heavy metals causes heavy environmental problems, in particular toxic effects on plants as well as on animals and humans. This article analyzes the effects of copper, a potentially toxic metal and abundant contaminant, on soil bacteria. Gram-positive soil bacteria of the Bacillus and Arthrobacter species, isolated from heavy metal contaminated areas, have been investigated as regards copper resistance. Both the studied Bacillus species ( Bacillus cereus and Bacillus pumilus ) are tolerant to copper, especially Bacillus cereus , but the investigated Arthrobacter oxydans species is not tolerant to copper. The oxidative stress response is important for adaptation to copper. This study focuses on the bacterial capacity to survive and in vitro antioxidant defense mechanisms for the estimation of their influence on soil restoration processes in vivo.